NOW Xbox TV Channel

Bloomberg today cites people familiar with the matter who claim Microsoft and ex-News Corp. boss Peter Chernin have discussed creating a television channel for Xbox users.
Exclusive to Xbox Live subscribers the channel would see the cost of the service rise by $1 to $2 per month and programming (both repeats and original shows) would be aimed at Live's young, male demographic with repeats and original shows airing.

Android 2.2 Froyo Screens Show Auto Updates

Here Android 2.2 "Froyo" running on a MyTouch 3G. The screens came from an "android trusted tester" via 4Chan, and shows both the version number and another highly-anticipated feature. There's indication that the images could possibly be a fake, however with Froyo out and about in Rumorland, chances are the images are legit. The big scoop in this latest brief is the possible arrival of automatic updating. Froyo may allow users to choose whether to let the installed application update itself, or let the end-user decide when or if to update. On one hand, this would be a welcome feature for heavily-used apps like Google Maps, Slacker Radio, XXX Videos Viewer, and more. However this could be problematic if the update has an unintentional glitch, rendering the app useless.

Assassin's Creed II is Cracked

In the ongoing effort to protect the hard work of the developers, Ubisoft created a DRM scheme that required a constant internet connection for all gameplay, be it single player or multiplayer. Without a constant connection to Ubisoft's master servers, the game cannot be played.
This form of protection caused great inconveniences for buyers of the game, be it on the internet connection end or a takedown of the Ubisoft servers. While the DRM was causing grief for real buyers of the game, it did keep the pirates at bay for far longer than the usual PC game. But the game hackers have finally cracked it.

A Map For the Blind

Here's a handheld concept that converts visual map info into a touch-friendly format. The Drop GPS system by designer Allan Sejer Madsen and Lukasz Natkaniec acts like a Braille-driven compass designed to help the blind literally feel their way through city streets.